Metallic clothes-line.



C. F. CHRISTOPHER.

METALLIC CLOTHES LINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 6, 1912.

1,041,027. Patented 001;. 15, 1912.

a J] Inventor by I v Attorneys UNITED STATES PATENT OFFTGE.

CALVIN F. CHRISTOPHER, OF ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM 1VI. JONES AND ONE-HALF 'IO NEPTUNE B'UCKNER, OF ASHEVILLE,

NORTH CAROLINA.

METALLIC CLOTHES-LINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CALVIN F. Cnnrsrro- PHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Asheville, in the county of Buncombe and State of North Carolina, have invented a new and useful Metallic Clothes-Line, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to metallic clothes lines, one of its objects being to provide a clothes line formed of similar pivotally connected sections, each section being made up of a single length of wire bent the proper shape and carrying one or more clips which are adjustable relative to each other and are designed to engage fabrics and hold them against displacement relative to the line.

Another object is to provide a line which is cheap to manufacture, durable, and which will yield when subjected to sudden strains, as when a heavy article such as a blanket is thrown thereonto.

With the foregoing and other objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred forms of the invention have been shown.

In said drawings :-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a line having the present improvements. Fig. 2 is a plan view of one of the sections of the line. Fig. 3 is an enlarged section 011 line AB Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of a portion of a modified form of line. Fig. 5 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 6 is an enlarged section on line O-D Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is an enlarged section on line E-F Fig. 5.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates a loop or eye formed by the middle portion of a wire strip, there being arms extending from the eye and crossed, as shown, these arms extending to elongated portions 3 which contact for the greater part of their length but are spaced apart at their ends, those ends of said portions remote from the arms 2, merging into similar oppositely disposed hooks 4; disposed in a plane perpendicular to the plane Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 15,1912.

1912. Serial No. 708,024.

occupied by the eye 1. The line is made up of a plurality of sections such as described, the hooks of one section engaging the eye of the next adjoining section and one or both ends of the line may be provided with coiled springs 5 adapted to be attached to the supporting structure so that, should the line be subjected to sudden strain, as when a blanket or other heavy article is thrown thereonto, the spring or springs will yield and thus ease the fastenings and reduce the danger of their pulling from the structure from which they extend.

Each of the links or members of the line may be provided with one or more clips. In Fig. 2 each link is shown provided with two clips, both clips being of the same construction. Each clip is made up of a wire bent to form an elongated loop 6, the space between the sides of the loop being sulficiently wide to receive the two portions 3 of the link. The middle portions of the sides of the clip are connected by a broad metal band 7 which extends around them and also around the portions 3 of the link, this band being fastened in any suitable manner, as by punching depressions 8 therein so as to frictionally engage the portions 3 or else the sides of the clips 6. If desired these bands may be adjustable longitudinally of the portions 3, the clips or elongated loops 6 being movable with them. The free end portions of the loops or clips 6 are upturned, as shown at 8 so that a fabric may be readily slipped between said clips and the portions 3. Thus it will be seen that a fabric can be easily placed in position between the loops or clips 6 and the portions 3 of the links and by adjusting the clips toward each other, comparatively small articles can be held at both sides by the two clips on a single link. 7

As each link is provided with crossed arms 2 it will be seen that the link is capable of elongating slightly when supporting a weight. It is to be understood of course that all portions of the links and the clips thereon are to be formed of spring metal so that the parts will be returned automatically to their initial positions after being dis torted.

Instead of forming the line and clips as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the line may be made of two parallel wires 9, as shown in Figs. a to 7 inclusive. Furthermore the clips may differ from that hereinbefore described and can be formed in a single piece of spring metal having a central depression 10 provided, in opposite sides, with openings 11 for the reception of the wires 9. Uppositely extending transversely bowed arms 12 eX- tend from this depression and are adapted to straddle the wires 9. The ends of the arms are upturned, as shown at 13 so as to facilitate the insertion of a fabric between the arms and the wires. This form of clip can be readily adjusted along the wires as will be obvious.

It will be apparent of course that the clips shown in Figs. 4 to 7 inclusive can be used upon the links shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in lieu of the clips shown on said links. This arrangement of the parts is so obvious that illustration thereof is not deemed necessary.

What is claimed is 1. In a clothes line, the combination with opposed wire members, of a clip slidably mounted on said members and including a central wire engaging portion and oppositely extending arms straddling the mean here.

2. In a clothes line, the combination with parallel wire portions, of a clip mounted on said portions and including a central portion for engaging the parallel wire portions to hold the clip against rotation about said wire portions, said clip also including oppositely extending arms straddling the parallel wire portions.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afliXed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CALVIN F. CHRISTOPHER.

Witnesses:

W. T. MUsoN, A. L. FREEMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

